5 cosas que quizás no sepa que su médico de atención primaria puede hacer

Do you only see your family medicine or primary care physician for annual physicals or during cold and flu season? Like many people, you might be unaware of the wide variety of treatments and procedures that can be provided right in your doctor’s office.

Como su "mariscal de campo de la salud", su médico de atención primaria o de medicina familiar es capaz de hacer más de lo que piensa. Aquí están las cinco condiciones principales que mis pacientes a menudo se sorprenden al saber que puedo abordar:

1. Salud ginecológica

For female patients, not only can your family medicine physician perform your annual physical and order your labs, they can also perform your Prueba de Papanicolaou and order your mammogram as part of your physical when indicated. Family medicine physicians can also address routine gynecological health concerns such as abnormal periods and can prescribe birth control.

Related: Is birth control right for you? Understand your options

2. Condiciones crónicas

You may not need multiple specialists to manage each of your chronic conditions, although every individual case is different. Family physicians can often manage chronic conditions such as Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and thyroid disorders.

3. Manejo de la pérdida de peso

Algunos de mis pacientes enfrentan los desafíos de intentar perder peso. Los médicos de atención primaria pueden ayudar brindando orientación sobre cómo realizar cambios en el estilo de vida a través de la elección de alimentos y el ejercicio. Además, podemos recetar medicamentos para ayudar con la pérdida de peso e incluso ofrecer referencias para la pérdida de peso quirúrgica, si es necesario.

4. Salud mental

Aunque no podemos tratar todas las condiciones de salud mental, algunos trastornos de salud mental pueden tratarse inicialmente en el consultorio de su médico de cabecera. Los médicos de medicina familiar están capacitados para diagnosticar la depresión y los trastornos de ansiedad y tratarlos con medicamentos como los antidepresivos. 

Related: How to talk to your doctor about anxiety

5. Preocupaciones de la piel

Your family physician can evaluate your skin concerns and determine if you need to see a dermatologist. Some family medicine physicians are also trained in how to perform a variety of in-office skin procedures, such as removing skin tags, freezing warts and even performing some skin biopsies.

Even beyond these conditions I’ve just listed, consulting with your primary care physician is the first step in treating many chronic or acute conditions. Your doctor’s office is also the best place to start to find the specialist care you may need for certain conditions.

Maintaining a strong relationship with your doctor is the best thing you can do to keep yourself well through all stages of life. Don’t have a primary care or family medicine physician? Find one today.